NBA: Dirk leads Mavs to a 112-105 victory over Thunder in OT

Oklahoma City
-
The Dallas Mavs lost one game at home, but bounced back to take two games on Oklahoma City. Dirk scored 48 points in game one and bounced back to score 40 points in this game to lift the Mavs to a 3-1 lead heading back to Dallas.

The Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27) took a tough loss in game three on their home, and look to bounce back in game four against the Dallas Mavericks (57-25). The Thunder has not lost back-to-back games at home in this year’s playoffs. The Mavs have had different players step up to get big wins in this series, but there is nothing like depending on Dirk Nowitzki who led them to victory.

Kendrick Perkins struck first to open the first quarter as the Thunder went on a 10-2 run to give them a nice lead. DeShawn Stevenson made a three-pointer, but Russell Westbrook made a jumper to give the Thunder a 12-5 lead. Jason Kidd made a three-pointer to try and cut into the lead only to have Kevin Durant score six straight points to give them an 18-8 lead.

Peja Stojakovic made a pair of buckets to make it a 22-15 game then Thabo Sefolosha made back-to-back buckets to give the Thunder a 26-15 lead. Dallas called a timeout and Jason Kidd made a layup to make it a 26-17 game.

Brendon Haywood made a free-throw and Shawn Marion made a dunk to get the Mavs within nine-points. The Thunder took a 31-22 lead into the second quarter.

Dirk Nowitzki made a pair of jumpers to open the second quarter. Jason Terry made a three-pointer to make it a 28-35 games, but the Thunder got back-to-back buckets to push their lead. Serge Ibaka and James Harden gave the Thunder a 29-38 lead before Nowitzki made a three-pointer. The Mavs tried to cut into the lead as Brandon Haywood made a bucket to cut the Thunder’s lead to single-digits.

Russell Westbrook made a jumper to make it a ten-point lead only to have Jason Terry cut it back down. Kevin Durant got a dunk to make it a ten-point lead, 47-37. Westbrook made another jumper and that gave the Thunder a 49-38 lead. Dirk Nowitzki made a layup to get it back to single-digits, but the Thunder always had a answer with Westbrook making a layup.

Dallas scored six straight points from Tyson Chandler, Jason Terry, and Dirk Nowitzki to make it a 51-46 game and force Oklahoma City to take a timeout. Thabo Sefolosha made a jumper to give the Thunder a seven-point lead.

Nowitzki scored four straight points to get the Mavs within three-points. Kendrick Perkins made back-to-back layups to give the Thunder a 57-52 lead. Kevin Durant finished the half with a pair of free-throws to make it a 59-54 lead going into halftime for the Thunder.

Russell Westbrook made a pair of free-throws to open the third quarter. Jason Kidd made a three-pointer and Dirk Nowitzki made a layup to get the Mavs within two-points, 61-59. Thabo Sefolosha made a jumper, but Dirk Nowitzki kept it close with a jumper of his own. Kevin Durant made a free-throw and then made a three-pointer to give the Thunder a 69-61 lead.

Tyson Chandler was hit with a technical and Kevin Durant made the free-throw. Nick Collison later made a dunk to give the Thunder an 11-point, 74-63 lead. Jason Terry made a layup, and Chandler had a three-point play to cut into the Thunder’s lead.

Jason Terry made a jumper to cut Oklahoma City lead to seven-points, 77-70. Serge Ibaka pushed it back to a nine-point lead only to have Shawn Marion make a pair of free-throws and Jason Terry knock down a three-pointer to make it a 79-75 game. Brendan Haywood got the Mavs within two-points. The quarter ended with Kevin Durant making a pair of free-throws give the Thunder an 81-77 lead.

Serge Ibaka made a jumper to open the final period which sparked a 7-2 run that gave them a nine-point lead, 88-79. J.J. Barea made a layup then Brendan Haywood was got a flagrant foul on Kevin Durant that gave Durant a pair of free-throws and the Thunder the ball.

Barea got a three-point play to cut into the Thunder lead, but Kevin Durant got a dunk that gave the Thunder a ten-point lead. Nick Collison made a jumper and Durant later made a three-pointer to give the Thunder a 99-84 lead. Dallas bounced back with a 7-0 run that made the score 99-91 lead. Russell Westbrook made a jumper to make it a 101-91 lead with 2:32 left in the game.

Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks.

flickr/Keith Allison

Dirk Nowitzki made a three-pointer and a pair of jumpers to get the Mavs within three-points, 101-98. Shawn Marion made one of two free-throws, and Nowitzki made a pair of free-throws to tie the game up at 101 points apiece. The Mavs finished with a 10-0 run that forced the game to go into overtime.

Dirk Nowitzki made a pair of free-throws to open the overtime period then Thabo Sefolosha made a jumper to tie the game up at 103 points apiece. Jason Terry made a jumper, and Jason Kidd added a three-pointer later on to give the Mavs a three-point, 108-105 lead. The Mavs sealed the deal with four free-throws from Kidd and Terry as the Thunder went cold.

The Mavs took a commanding 3-1 lead by winning both game on the road in Oklahoma City. This could have been the last home game of the season as the series switches back to Dallas for game five which will be played Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 9:00 PM (EST).